Equilateral folding leg table



June 8, 1954 G. v. STEPHENS 2,630,660

EQUILATERAL FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed July 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 65026.5 M 572 PMs VS.

1559'- 5. 7/52, 4 M mf g Jazz:

@TTOENLYJ June 8, 1954 G. v. STEPHENS 2,680,660

EQUILATERAL FOLDING LEG TABLE Filed July 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 c v INVENTOR. 65.0261: MSTAPHENS.

Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to tables, particularly to tables for use on lawns, patios and other places where the surface or floor may not be even and smooth.

The table of the invention comprises a threelegged structure that can be readily and quickly placed firmly on rough and uneven surfaces, without danger of the table tilting or rocking, as four-legged tables tend to do. Mine is a table especially, though not exclusively, designed for picnic-style dininga so-called barbecue table. At the center of the table top a turn-table portion is provided-commonly referred to as a lazy susanon which condiments, butter, sugar and other items of food are carried, with the effect that persons positioned around the table may, by turning the lazy susan, bring one and another of the food items into convenient position.

In accordance with my objects the invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in the construction of such tables. It is a matter of engineering knowledge that triangular structures and suspensions are of greater simplicity and strength, and, more particularly, my invention is found in an improved embodiment of such knowledge in a table structure.

The three legs of the table are articulated to a triangular frame that carries the main table top, and the legs are adapted to be swung from service position into nested position upon the triangular frame, whereby the table may be collapsed when not in use, or erected when desired for use, after the manner that a conventional bridge table is taken down or put up. Additionally, lazy susan portion of the table top is provided with a three-point or triangular suspension,.which, in combination with said triangular frame and three-legged construction, provides a most effective and serviceable structural organization.

The invention will be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top-plan view of a table embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the table in erected or service position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, showing in vertic'al section and tolarger scale the mounting of the lazy susan, the plane of section being indicated at III-III in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top-plan view of the triangular frame of the table, the top of the table and the lazy susan having been removed, although their positions with respect to frame are indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a bottom-plan view of the table, showing the legs in folded or collapsed position; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom-plan view of the frame of the table, showing one leg in folded position.

Referring to the drawings the table comprises a flat top 2, formed in this case of a single, circular piece of plywood, which is secured upon, and reinforced by, a triangular frame constructed of three side members 3. One angle of the triangular frame is bisected by a member 4 that extends to the opposing side member 3, where it is united in a mortise joint 5, while the other two angles of the triangle are bisected by members 6 and I that are united to the member 4 at the common center 8 of the frame and the table top. At the three corners of the triangle the side members 3 and the bisecting members 4, t and l are united, and reinforced by gussets 9 that are countersunk in such members, whereby the lower faces of the gussets lie flush with the bottom edges of the frame members as will be understood upon considering Fig. 2. The table structure is (with the exception of certain hinges, knee-braces, bearings, screws and bolts) formed of wood, united and secured in assembly by means of glue, bolts and screws. It is to be noted, however, that the table may be constructed of metal, or other suitable material.

The three legs I0 of the table are severally hinged, as at l l, to the three corners of the structural frame, the hinges being T hinges, with the vertical portions of their T-shaped bodies secured to the inner faces of the legs l0 and the crossarms of the bodies secured to the under faces of the gussets 9.

A lazy susan turntable I2 is rotatably mounted in the plane of the table top 2, or in a plane immediately above and paralleling the plane of the table top. Pegs l3 are provided on the turntable to facilitate the manual rotation thereof. The table top includes a circular opening Id which is covered by the circular body of the turntable. A bolt [5 is secured at the center of the table structure in the bisecting member 4, and the top of this bolt is extended upwardly into a metal socket It provided at the center of the body of the turntable. Near the periphery of the turntable a three-point suspension is provided in'the form of three ball or roller hearing I! mounted, one on each of the bisecting members 4, 6 and l of the triangular frame of the table structure. The tops of these bearings extend upwardly through the opening 5 4 in the table top and bear against the bottom of the turntable, as shown in Fig. 3. The turntable is thus firmly supported for rotation in service, with a heavy burden of foodstuffs carried on its top surface. The turntable, manifestly, may be readily lifted free from assembly with the table, or reassembled therewith, as is advantageous when collapsing the table for storage, as will presently appear, or for setting it up for service.

Knee-braces it, each formed of two metal straps articulated at 15 (Fig. 2), are pivoted at their upper ends, as at El, to angle blocks 2e (Fig. 6) secured severally to the bisecting members 4, 6 and l, and at their lower ends, as at 22, to the bodies of legs E0. The legs iii are adapted to swing on their hinges ii, each in a plane that is normal to the hinge-line, and in such plane (or substantially so), each kneebrace I8 is arranged to open and-close. That is to say, the knee-braces H are arranged to fold on their points is of articulation from the extended leg-bracing positions, shown in Fig. 2, to the collapsed or folded position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The axes of the pivots l9, 2! and 220i each knee-brace extend normal to the plane and the associate leg 16 swings on its hinge i i.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be understood that the longitudinal center line b-b of the bisecting member it forms a radial line with respect to the axis of the bolt is on which the turntable 52 is adapted to rotate. The axis a-a of the hinge is inclined'or canted to the center line 12-22, whereby the plane in which the particular leg swings on the hinge is inclined to the said center line of the bisecting member 4. Thus, when the leg is swung into folded position, in which it is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the longitudinal center line c-c of the leg extends nonradially; that is, it is inclined to the radially extending center line 21-1) of the bisecting member 6. The hinges of all three legs iii are similarly organized. Accordingly, it may be said that the three legs of the table are hinged to the triangular frame severally at points on three radial lines (the longitudinal center lines of members 4, 6 and l) which are angularly equispaced about the axis (15) of the turntable, and the lengths of such three radial lines from the axis 15 to the corresponding hinges are substantially equal. The hinge-line or axis (or-a) of each leg is canted with respect to the correlated radial line (bb'). In consequence of this particularly effective organization, the three legs 19 may be swung into non-radial positions at the bottom of the table structure, with the free ends of the legs nested adjacent to the center of the table top or the axis of the lazy susan, as appears in Fig. 5. Thus, when the table is not in service, the turntable may be lifted from assembled position, and the legs nested at the bottom of the table structure. The folded or collapsed table structure may be readily handled, to place it in storage, or to bring it forth and set it up for service on a lawn, patio, etc. The objects of my invention arerealized in largest measure.

In considering the appended claims, it will be understood that various modifications, or elaborations, or refinements of the structure herein illustrated and described, will incorporate the spirit of the invention defined.

I claim:

1. A table having a triangular frame, a circular table top mounted upon and rigidly secured to said frame, three legs hinged to the apexes of said triangular frame severally at points on three radial lines that are angularly equispaced and of substantially equal length with respect to the center of the table top, the hingle-line of each leg being canted with respect to the radial line extending from the center of the table top to the point at which such leg is hinged to said frame for the swing of the leg in a plane that is normal to the table top and that is offset from said radial line by an angle that permits the leg to'be foldedinto anon-radial position at the bottom of said table top, with the end of such leg freely nested with the ends of the other two legs adjacent to the said center of the table top.

2..A.table having a triangular frame, a circular table top mounted upon and rigidly secured tosaidframe, three legs hinged to the apexes of said triangular frame severally at points on three radial lines'that are angularly equispaced and of substantially equal length with respect to the center of the table top, the hinge-line of each leg being canted with respect to the radial line extending fromthe center of the table ,toptothepoint at which such leg is hingedto said. frame.

for the swing of the leg in a plane that is normal. to the. table top and that, is, offset from said radial line by an angle that permits the leg to be folded into a non-radial, position at the bot.-

tom of said table top,.with.the end of. such leg.

freely nested with the ends of the other two legs adjacent to the said center of. thetable top, and each leg having an articulated. kneeebrace arranged to fold, substantially in the plane in which, the leg swings on itshinge.

3. A table. having atop rigidly. mounted upon a frame having three side members forming a.

triangle as viewed inplan and three members severally bisecting the three angles of the triangle, a leg hinged to eachcorner of said triangular frame, the hinge-lineof each leg being canted with respect to a radialline extending from the center of the table top to the hinge,

whereby the legs may be swung and nested in.

non-radial positions at the bottom. of the table. each leg having a medially articulated kneebrace to. secure the leg in erect position, each knee-brace being pivoted at one end to. one of said bisecting members of said frame and at opposite end to the leg, and the pivot, and articulationaxesof each knee-brace, extending normal to the plane in which the leg swings on its hinge.

4. The structure, of claimv 3, wherein, the bisecting members of said triangular frame provide. bearing supports for a lazy susan turnetable, the said table top, being recessed above the.

frame to expose the bearing-supporting portions of said bisecting members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 528,250 Graham Oct. 30, 1894 733,661 Knight July 14, 1903 909,787 Hanley Jan. 12, 1909 1,104,083 Stone July 21, 1914 1,306,466 Coffin June 10, 1919 1,506,669 Sabiston Aug. 26, 1924- 1,623,100 Dolan Apr. 5, 1927 1,760,394 Kalgren Nov. 4, 1930 1,812,967 Long 1- July 7', 1931 1,872,669 Burlin Aug. 23; 1932v 2,079,639 Swensson May 11, 1937 2,453,443 Logan Nov- 9, 1948i 

